Jack is back! Hastings traditional Jack in the Green returns Friday 02 May – Monday 05 May 2025
Jack in the Green in Hastings, East Sussex is a fun festival and one which locals look forward to for months. Jack is back to celebrate 41 years of foliage-based festivities in 2025. The festival signifies that we’ve left winter behind, that summer’s on its way and we’re all ready for a bit of May Day madness.
Hastings Jack in the Green is one of the UK’s biggest and best. Read on to discover more about where the quirky tradition comes from and all the things you need to know to join in the fun.
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Jack in the Green, Hastings
If you head down to Hastings Old Town during Jack in the Green festival you’ll more than likely go home with a green nose. Hastings Jack in the Green, sometimes known as Jack o’ the Green legend, is a festival of fun, frolics and foliage which celebrates the coming of summer.
The Green Man festival in Hastings is a popular Sussex event and takes place over a four day period, usually during the first weekend in May. It culminates in a bizarre procession through the medievel lanes of Hastings old town on Bank Holiday Monday.
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Scroll down for this year’s dates and timings
What is the history of Jack in the Green Hastings
Jack is a traditional May Day character symbolising winter and is at the heart of the Jack in the Green festivities. A towering Jack leads the procession through the ancient lanes of Hastings old town flanked by his green bogies and the event has become part of Hastings history.
The custom originates from British folklore and started as part of English May Day celebrations in the 17th century. The townsfolk created a garlands of flowers and leaves which the maidens would wear whilst dancing around the Maypole. The garlands gradually became more and more elaborate with neighbouring villages trying to out-do each other.
Jack in the Green was first referenced in 1770 in an article of a London May Day procession. Later the tradition became associated with chimney sweeps. Some believe Jack goes back further and has more pagan connections. The garlands evolved and eventually ended up covering Jack from head to foot in foliage, hence Green Jack then became known as Jack in the Green.
The custom died out in the mid-1800s. The bawdy displays were frowned upon by prudish Victorians and Jack in the Green was replaced with the more demure Queen of the May. But not for long…
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Hastings Jack in the Green
In Hastings Jack is back with a vengeance! The Hastings Jack on the Green festival was revived in 1983 and is now one of the most popular of Hastings festivals and has a part in Hastings history.
The green man parade kicks off with ‘the Gathering’ next to the tall black fishermen’s huts in the Stade in Hastings Old Town. It’s here that ‘the greening’ begins. Jack’s attendants, the green Bogies, bedecked in green rags and foliage start their drumming.
The crowd cheers as Jack, a towering vision of vegetation with crown atop, is released into the town. The crown consists of red blue and gold flowers and ribbons which represent the colours of the Cinque Ports emblem.
Hastings is one of the five Cinque Ports along with Sandwich, Dover, Hythe and New Romney in Kent.
Jack’s Green Bogies
Part man, part bush and big part alcohol the Green Bogie is Jack’s friend and minder. There are twelve in total. The Green Bogies, along with Black Sal, Jack’s consort, a big man with a drum and many others accompany Jack through the town up to Hastings Castle on the West Hill.
If the bogies spot anyone on the way who isn’t green enough they’ll soon sort it with a dab of green face-paint to the nose. If you’re not so lucky you’ll get a face full. It’s best not to catch the gaze of the green bogey…
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Hastings Jack in the Green – The Morris Sides
The Jack in the Green procession consists of many local Morris sides. Hastings Jack in the Green is said to be one of the largest annual gatherings of Morris dancers in the country. Mad Jack’s Morris is a local Morris side responsible for the revival of the current festival.
Behind them the chimney sweeps, brushes held aloft are followed by Hannah’s Cat Morris, a womens’ side, dressed in purple and pink, who dance and flick their handkerchiefs as they go.
The Lovely Ladies and Gay Bogies are all dressed to impress and have some of the more elaborate costumes – a hat topped with a stuffed raven, a stag head dress and every shade of green. Some are quite folksy others more neo-pagan and slightly Goth.
Various Morris Sides jingle along, clacking their sticks whilst musicians and drummers make up the rest of the parade.
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The Hastings Giants
Following up the rear are the towering Mollies or Giants made from papier Mache and standing around 12-feet tall. Each one represents a local town; the form of the giant depends on the town’s history and traits.
My first Jack in the Green and the day dawned bright and sunny. Crowds jostled, keen to get a good view. Everyone’s dressed in green, some with garlands in their hair others, like me, with green noses. Yes, the Bogies got me.
Music fills the air, infectious rhythms and beats weaving their magic through the crowds. The sunshine adds to the atmosphere together with anticipation of the summer after a long, dark winter. Buildings are decorated in garlands and the pubs open early – that’s a big part of what this Hastings folk festival is all about.
The Jack in the Green procession makes its way through the town with more than a few refreshment stops en-route. There’s plenty of time to catch a glimpse of the main players and colourful costumes during the breaks.
Place yourself next to a good pub and you won’t be disappointed because that’s where they’ll stop for a break.
Eventually the procession makes its way up to the castle on the hill. As Jack arrives there “Twiggy”, aka a bundle of twigs, is hoisted to the top of the flagpole while the procession is drummed in by the Bogies.
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Sussex Morris Dancers
Up at the castle the Morris Sides take to the stage for a dance-off so each can showcase their signature dance. Look out for Mad Jacks Morris dancers.
Food stalls sell tasty snacks; a craft fair offers home-made goods and, of course, there’s the obligatory beer tent and family entertainment.
When the dance-off ends the Green Bogies march Green Jack to the stage. The drumming becomes louder, faster and more frenzied.
Finally, poor Jack, the symbol of winter, is slain by Mad Jack’s Morris Men and his foliage distributed to the crowd. The spirit of summer is released and we can all look forward to the good weather to come. Well we can live in hope…
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*See below for details of Jack in the Green 2025*
Jack in the Green – Parade Timetable (Monday)
The timings below are for the main parade day on Bank Holiday Monday 05 May 2025. These are approximate but should help you plan out your day.
7.30am to 9.00am – Breakfast – St Clements Church, High Street, Hastings. This is a ‘not for profit’ breakfast, with all proceeds going to the Two Towers Trust.
9.45am – The Gathering – Hastings Fishermen’s Museum, Rock-A-Nore Rd, Hastings TN34 3DW. This is where the characters taking part in the procession will be gathering to wait for Jack.
10.15am – Jack is Released – This is where the fun really begins. Jack first appears in his familiar giant green-leafed cloak and flower crown, accompanied by his Bogies. The Bogies are Jack’s protectors and their job is to keep him safe whilst he creates his mischief in Hastings. After dancing with ‘Mad Jack’s Women’, his next move is to start the procession by leading everyone along Rock-a-Nore Road and up the very narrow All Saints Street.
10.20 – 11.20am Jack leads the procession through Hastings Old Town.
11.15-12pm – Time for a pause in The High Street – Whilst everyone has the opportunity for dancing and some refreshments, Jack travels back through the procession to meet all of his followers. Once he’s ready, the procession re-gathers behind him so he can lead them up towards the West Hill at around midday.
12pm – The procession winds its way up Croft Road and Collier Road in order to arrive at the Main Stage, West Hill – This is where the fun really starts. Throughout the afternoon, a range of musicians and folk groups along with Morris dancing and drummers performing on the stage. There is also an entertainment area for children, food stalls and refreshments tents with plenty of Real Ale from local brewers.
4pm – Slaying of the Jack – After all the merriments and the dancing, it’s time for the Bogies to parade Jack down to the main stage where he is symbolically slain. His demise signifies the release of the Spirit of Summer for the coming year.
Over the weekend there will be morris dancing around the town, bands, drummers, a traditional ceilidh and a sunrise ceremony to welcome the summer on the Sunday.
Check the official website for more Jack in the Green events happening over the weekend.
>>> Looking for somewhere to stay in Hastings? Check here for rates and availability
What’s on day by day – Friday 02 May to Monday 05 May 2025
Friday 02 May
19:00 – 21:00 hrs: Red Set Girls and Jack in the Green – A Celebration of Folk, Resistance, and Identity at Hastings Museum and Gallery. Donations on the door.
Saturday 03 May
10:00-12:00 hrs – Garland and head dress workshop at Classroom on the Coast.
12:00-16:00 hrs – Host sides Hastings RX Morris and Hannah’s Cat commence the dancing at the Stade Open Space by Hastings Contemporary.
14:00-16:30 hrs – Rattlebag Singaround at The Stag Inn.
20.00-23:00 hrs – Ceilidh with ‘Out of Hand’ and caller Annie Bolt at the White Rock Theatre.
Sunday 04 May
10:00-11:00hrs – Morris dancers’ service at All Saints Church.
12:00-15:00 hrs – Dancing on the Stade and around the Old Town.
15:00-16.00 hrs – Rattlebag family friendly singaround at Hastings Fishermen’s Museum
16.30 – The Drum Off in Butler’s Gap.
17:00-19:00 hrs – Folk songs concert with The Copper Family (For tickets please visit the Eventbrite Page.)
20.00-22:30 hrs – The Big Squeeze at The Albion (Scottish Bar)
Monday 05 May
Procession times are approximate
07.30-9:00hrs – Morris dancers’ breakfast at St Clement’s Church.
10.15 – Jack released from The Fishermen’s Museum followed by grand procession around the Old Town.
11.15 – Procession break in the High Street for 45 mins before continuing up to the West Hill
16.00 – Slaying of the Jack.
Hastings May Day Bike Run
Jack in the Green is one of the biggest events in 1066 Country but there’s also another major event in Hastings on the Bank Holiday Monday.
The town hosts thousands of bikers from the May Day run on bank holiday Monday on 05 May. The event involves thousands of motorbikes and scooters taking a 55-mile (89 km) trip on the A21 road from Locksbottom to Hastings seafront which coincides with the Jack-in-the-Green festival. May Day bank holiday in Hastings is quite an event!
However, because of this local roads and the A21 can get congested and car parking around the town is limited. The train might well be your best option. Check train times.
Find out more about Hastings Jack in the Green (HTJITG) and what else to see and do in Hastings old town.
More places to visit in Sussex
- A Sussex Walk – Seven Sisters Country Park
- A weekend break in Rye
- Eastbourne Trails and Coastal Walks
- How to spend a day in Battle ,East Sussex
- Rathfinny Wine Estate – Home of Sussex Sparkling
Suzanne Jones is owner and editor at Hello Sussex which was founded in 2017. When she’s not exploring Sussex or writing about it you’ll most likely find her, camera in hand, enjoying coastal and countryside hikes across the county.
Suzanne is also travel writer and content creator at top travel blog The Travelbunny which she founded in 2011.